STRUCK TOOLS NEED CARE IN HANDLING
Compliments of the Hand Tools Institute
The competent handyman would no more use a broken hammer than he would a bent nail to start a project. But sometimes the tools struck with a hammer don’t receive the same careful consideration. These struck tools – chisels, wedges, star drills, and punches – in many cases do not receive the attention they should in regard to their care and selection, according to the Hand Tools Institute. Struck or hammered tools can perform a variety of jobs such as shearing rivets and bolts, cutting bricks, chipping mortar, splitting wood, drilling masonry, and punching holes. But the correct tool is required for each job for both safety and performance. The cold chisel is specifically designed for cutting cold metal such as steel and aluminum. The cutting edge width of the cold chisel chosen should be twice the diameter of the bolt being cut. This tool should never be used on stone or concrete. The ball pein hammer for striking cold chisels. For scoring and cutting brick, block and masonry, the brick chisel is the proper choice. Always strike this tool with a hand drilling hammer – not with a bricklayer’s hammer and never use a brick chisel on metal. When splitting logs, firewood and staves, a wedge should be used. The blow should be struck with a woodchoppers maul. The mail also can be used to make a notch for entry of the wedge into a log. Never drive a wedge with an axe, nor use an axe as a wedge. For drilling holes in masonry such as stone, concrete and brick, a star drill may be used. The tool should be struck with a hand-drilling hammer and rotated slightly after each blow. When driving and removing pins and rivets, aligning holes in metal, marking metal, the hand punch should be selected. This struck tool should never be used on stone or concrete. The flooring chisel should be used for rough cutting and trimming of both hard and soft woods. For rough, heavy duty wood cutting the all steel wood chisel should be used. In every case, regardless of the tool used, HTI warns that safety goggles should always be worn. Care and maintenance of these hammered tools are important considerations. The sharpness of the tool is important to its proper and safe use. When sharpening, a file and hand stone are recommended. High speed grinding can cause over-heating which may cause the tool to lose strength and durability. If the struck end becomes spread and mushroom shaped, HTI recommends redressing the struck end to the original shape with a file. Manufacturing plays a central role in the economic growth of our nation, primarily through a unique, interdependent system of innovation that affects all sectors of the economy. By nurturing innovations from concepts through to full-fledged improvements in products and processes, American manufacturing is responsible for providing the basis for more jobs, improved productivity, prosperity and a higher quality of life. Support American Manufacturing. |